New York Daily News

Louisville earns 82-74 victory over Florida State as interim coach David Padgett guides his team through controversy

Daniel Popper ·Mar 8, 2018 1:44 AM

Since the moment he was named Louisville’s interim head coach in September, David Padgett has not wavered in his mindset. Despite the opportunity presented to him, Padgett, who turned 33 last month, never made this season about himself or furthering his young coaching career. His focus has always been on one thing and one thing only: His players.

Padgett assumed his role on Sept. 29, two days after longtime head coach Rick Pitino was placed on administrative leave in the wake of the bombshell FBI investigation that has rocked college basketball. On that day, with the start of preseason practices just days away, Padgett was clear about his intentions: “I want to do this for these players,” he said at the introductory press conference, “to have as great of a season as we can have, because these kids deserve it.”

He’s stayed true to that message. On Wednesday at Barclays Center, Louisville earned a much-needed victory over Florida State in the ACC Tournament’s second round, 82-74. It was a game the Cardinals had to win in order to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive, after a season of uncertainty and inconsistency that’s unfolded amid a never-ending stream of controversy and outcry. After the game, Padgett was asked how he’s navigated this difficult terrain over the past six months.

“Keeping my focus on them and them only,” Padgett said, motioning to senior guard Quentin Snider and junior wing Deng Adel, who sat to their coach’s left. “I haven’t focused on anything since that day in September when I was named coach, and their concern is my concern. I haven’t deviated from that one bit whatsoever.”

Just more than two weeks after being placed on leave, Pitino was officially fired “with just cause,” ending a 17-season run at Louisville.

In this shadow, Padgett — who spent three years as an assistant on Pitino’s staff from 2015-17 and also played three seasons at Louisville from 2005-08 — took over one of the most volatile situations in recent college basketball history.

It only worsened in late February, when the NCAA announced that Louisville would have to vacate more than 100 wins — including its 2013 national championship — because of the highly publicized escort scandal.

This ruling was completely separate from the FBI investigation. Two scandals. A 33-year-old first-time head coach. Ostensibly, it was a disaster unfolding before everyone’s eyes. And yet the Cardinals have persevered. They face No. 1 Virginia on Thursday. A win would make them a lock for the Big Dance.

None of this would have been possible without Padgett’s leadership, according to senior center Anas Mahmoud.

“He’s been more like a father for all of us,” Mahmoud said. “If anything happens outside of basketball, he always wanted to address it with us. He makes us understand that he’s there for us. He’s been there for me for the last four years more than anyone else. Just our relationship has been great for the last four years. I couldn’t have asked for anybody in this situation better than him.”

Padgett is not Pitino. For starters, he stands 6-11. More importantly, he has a different demeanor on the sideline. Yes, he stomps and claps and yells. But he berates his players less. He doesn’t possess the ice-cold stare that defined Pitino’s coaching style.

“He gets on us sometimes,” Mahmoud said of Padgett, “but we understand that it’s for the right reasons.”

There’s no telling what Padgett’s future holds. If Louisville misses the NCAA Tournament, he likely won’t return next season. Will his poise and grace in this scandalous season be enough to get him a head-coaching job elsewhere? Possibly.

But Padgett isn’t thinking about those things right now. He has a season to finish. For his players.